Pencil-sharpener.



A. D. FISHER.

PENCIL SHAEPENER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY s, 1909.

Patented June 18, 1912.

,W W @5W/wy@ 1 l AHORA/Ba cuLUMBlA PLANDGRAPH 0., WASHINGTON. n. c.

ALEXANDER D. FISHER, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

PENCIL-SHARPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 18, 1912.

Application filed July 8, 1909. Serial No. 506,613. u

To aZZ 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER D.- FISHER, ofthe city of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Sharpeners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to pencil sharpeners of the type in which thepencil is held in a recessed holder and sharpened by a sliding cutter,and my object is to devise a Sharpener of this type which will beefficient, cheap, light, compact and easily operated without soiling thefingers.

I attain my object by the constructions hereinafter specificallydescribed.

Figure l is a plan view of my improved pencil Sharpener. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section showing the tightener bar in the positionit assumes to free the cutter from its working position. Fig. isasimilar view showing the t-ightener bar moved to hold the cutter downto its working position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the Sharpenerpartly broken away to show means for holding the cutter in position.Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the pencil holder showing the slide infront elevation. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the slide. Fig. 7 is across section showing a modification of Y the cutter clamp and cutteradjustment.

In the drawings like letters of reference yindicate corresponding partsin the different figures.

A is the pencil holder formed of a substantially rectangular bar havinga suitably shaped recess B formed therein to receive the pencil in sucha manner as to exposev its end partly through the upper surface of theholder in position to be acted on by the cutter as hereinafterdescribed. Owing to the inner end of the recess being conical a taperedopening is formed in the upper side of the pencil holder and to preventthe breaking of the point of the lead during sharpening I form a slightenlargement a at the end of this tapered opening. The forward edge ofthis enlargement forms a stop against which the point of the lead willabut to limit the forward feed of the pencil after. the latter has beensufficiently sharpened.

On the holder A the slide C is longitudinally movable. This slide itwill be seen embraces the pencil holder its upper part being formedpartly by the seat D for the cutter, and forward of that by the ribs q.

The cutter E is formed of a small circular knife having a stud bprojecting from its upper surface. The upper surface of the seat D 1sinclined as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and t to present the edgeof the clamp F which has a hole formed therein to fit over the stud bwhen the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Thisclamp is formed of spring metal so that it may be sprung tightlydown on top of the cutter and its forward end engaged beneath theswinging lock bar G which is pivoted at al at one side of the slide andis adapted to engage in notch e at the opposite side. p When the clampis held beneath this lock bar the cutter will be securely held in placeon the seat. When the clamp is thrown back as shown in Fig. 4 the cutteris readily removed for replacement. It will be noted that the stud Z) isprovided with a slot for a screw driver. The cutter may thus be readilyturned whenever desired to present a fresh cutting edge for action. Gagemarks are preferably provided, on the clamp F, as shown in Fig. l, toaid in the adjustment of the cutter, and a coperating index mark isformed on the head of the stud Z).

To secure effective action it is important that the cutter be heldclosely down to its work during the cutting stroke and that it beallowed tovlift from its work during the return stroke in order that thepencil may be turned during the return stroke to present a fresh surfaceto be cut. If no such provision is made the knife will drag back overthe work which not only spoils the cutting edge but is apt to break thepoint of the lead. I avoid this result by the mechanism I will nowdescribe.

Between the under side' of the slide and the under side of the pencilholder is located a tightener bar H. This is preferably carried by thepencil holder. This tightener bar is provided with the projections fhaving inclined rear edges. Similarly shaped projections g are formed onthe underside Aof the holder A. The tightener bar may thus assume eitherthe position shown in Fig. 2 or when shifted endwise the position shownin Fig. 3. Whenin the latter position the slide C is held down with thecutter in proper position for work. When the tightener bar is in theposition shown in Fig. 2 the slide is loose and may be drawn back andlifted yover the work as already described without damage to the cutteror the point ofthe pencil.

The longitudinal mo-vement is imparted to the tightener bar in thefollowing manner. A lug I is formed at the rear end of the tightener barand a lug J is detachably secured to the forward end of the tightenerbar. This lug J is made detachable to aid in the assembling of thedevice. The bottom of the slide itV will be seen is in position toengage these lugs I and J. Assuming a pencil to be inserted in theholder while the parts are in the position shown in Fig.-2 the slide Cis drawn back unt-il it engages the lug I when the tightener bar isdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 3. The cutting stroke is now madethe forward movement continuing until the slide has strucl; the lug Jand caused the tightener bar to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. Theslide is thus freed to loosen the cutter from its work ready for thereturn stroke during which the pencil may be turned as alreadydescribed.

I find it necessary to provide the tightener bar with spring meanstending to retain it either in the position shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.`For this purpose I secure in a suitable recess in the'under side of thepencilholder A the bent spring K. One end L is bent into a U, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3, and is held in the corner of the recess by a pin Thefree end of the spring extends substantially parallel to the axis of theholder and is bent back upon itself as shown, the end y' passing througha loose hole formedon the lug is formed on the tightener bar I-I. Thisspring tends to hold the tightener bar in either of the positions shownwithout interfering with the longitudinal movements of the bar. The lugla by abutting on the ends of the notch Z serves to limit thelongitudinal movements of the tightener bar. l

I find in practice that owing to the antifriction properties of graphitethat the knife will sometimes slightly spring up over the lead pointinstead of cutting it down level with the cut in the wood. Theunyielding knife seat then passing on over the point will break it. Toavoid this I slightly cut away or groove the knife seat behind theworking edge of the cutter to afford a space into which the lead mayspring after thecutter has passed by, as shown particularly'at m inFigs. 2, 3,4 and 6.l It will be noted that Vthe forward end of thecutter clamp F is extended diagonally forward and upward to the lock barGr. This upwardly inclined portion L forms a chip guard to prevent chipsand graphite flying back to contact with the lingers gripping. themovable slide. The upwardly extended sides n of the slide form sideguards to aid in securing the desired result. The chips and powderedgraphite are pushed forward by the chip guards into a chip recess IVIformed near the front end of the pencil holder. From this recess theymay be tipped into any suitable receptacle after the sharpeningoperation is finished.

To give the end of the holder a secure grip on any surface withoutmarring the sur face I provide the end of the holder with a rubbervacuumcup N suitably secured thereto. The end pressure of a pencil whenplaced in position in the holder will securely hold this vacuum cupagainst any suitable surface while the slide is being reciprocated. Inorder that the slide may be easily gripped and operated I preferablycurve the sides longitudinally and linurl or otherwise roughen them asshown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4. I may also provide the slide with ahandle-0 secured to its under side to suit those who may vnot find theholder convenient to operate by grasping its sides. For some purposes itmay be convenient to secure the holder permanently to some verticalsurface. I therefore provide the attaching lug P which may be secured tothe end of the holder in place of the vacuum cup N.

yTo enable the cutter to be set for a line or a coarse cut I preferablyprovide the following means. A lug Q, is formed on the cutter clamp Fthrough which is threaded the adjusting screw R which engages the rearside of the stud b of the cutter E. The hole in the cutter clamp throughwhich the stud passes is made slightly oblong, as shown particularly inFig..1, hence by adjusting the screw R the cutter Amay be pressedforward down its seat to give any depth of cut desired within the limitsof adjustment provided. A

In Fig. 1 I show a modification of the cutter clamp. Lugs o are inwardlyextended from the parts n of the side and the forward end of the cutterclamp F is inserted beneath them. The rearward end of the clamp is bentdown to form a flange p. Through a hole in the flange is passed a screwS which screws into the back of the cutter seat D. The stud b will fitclosely in the hole in vclamp F so that by adjusting the screw S thecutter may be adjusted on its seat. The cutter clamp, as in the formpreviously, must be sprung down on the cutter before it can be secured,thus tightly holding down the cutter. In each form of clamp shown itwill be seen t-hat there is a hinge arrangement at one end, free in onecase and pinned in t-he other, and a releasable fastening means at theother.

I nd that a pencil Sharpener constructed in accordance with my inventionwill quickly and easily sharpen a pencil Without breaking the lead. Bythe use of suitable die casting processes and sheet metal stampings thedevice may be cheaply and accurately made. By the use of the rotatablecutter ofthe size shown at least 24 different Working edges may beconsecutively brought into position for use, and when one cutter iscompletely dulled all around its Working edge it is readily replaceableby another. These cutters being small may be turned out at a pricemaking the cost of renewal a mere trifle.

What I claim as my invention is z- 1. In a pencil sharpener thecombination of a pencil holder; a slide mo-vable longitudinally on saidholder and also movableto and from its Working position; a cuttercarried by said slide; and means for holding the slide down to itsWorking position during the cutting stroke; and means for free ing it atthe end of said stroke.

2. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; and a tightener baradapted to be automatically moved at the end of the return stroke of theslide to hold the slide down to its Working position and at the end ofthe cutting` stroke to release it automatically romsaid Workingposition.

8. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; and a tightener barmovable by the slide at the end of its return stroke to hold the slidedown to its Working position and at the end of the cutting stroke. torelease it from said Working position.

4f. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; a tightener barmovable by the slide at the end of its return stroke to hold the slidedovvn to its working position at the end of the cutting' stroke torelease it from said Working position; and a spring tending to hold the'said bar in its slide releasing` position.

5. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable iongitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; a tightener barlongitudinally movable; and means for moving said bar to and from theholder comprising inclined planes formed on the pencil holder and saidbar respectively.

6. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a Slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; a tightener barlongitudinally movable; means for moving said bar to and from the holdercomprising inclined planes formed on the pencil holder and said barrespectively; a spring secured to the holder having an arm extendedsubstantially parallel to the axis of the holder and bent back uponitself; and a lug on the bar having a hole therein through which thefree end of the spring passes.

7. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; a tightener barlongitudinally movable; means for moving said bar to and from the holdercomprising inclined planes formed on the pencil holder and said barrespectively; and stops limiting the longitudinal movements of the baron the holder.

8. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and. from itsWorking position; a cutter carried by said slide; a tightener baradapted to be automatically moved at the end of the return stroke of theslide to hold the slide dovvn to its Working position and at the end ofthe cutting stroke to release it automatically from said Workingposition; a spring secured to the holder having an arm extendedsubstantially parallel to the axis of the holder and bent back uponitself; and a lug on the bar having a hole therein through Which thefree end of the spring passes.

9. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder; a rotatable cutter; a seat forsaid cutter formed on the slide; a cutter clamp having a swingingengagement With the slide at one end; releasable means for holding downthe other end of the clamp; a central stud on the cutter the clamp beingprovided With an oblong hole to receive said stud; a lug on said clamp;and an adjusting screw threaded through said lug and engaging the stud.

10. The combination of a pencil holder; a slide longitudinally movableon the holder; a rotatable cutter; a cutter clamp having a hol-etherein; and a stud on the cutter passing through said hole gage andindex marks being formed around the hole and on the stud.

11. In a pencil Sharpener the combination of a pencil holder; a slidemovable longitudinally on said holder and also movable to and from itsWorking position; a cutter car- `part longitudinal movement to thetightenei' ried by Said slide; a. tightener bar longitnbar, one ofsaidlugs being detachable. dinally Inova-ble; means for moving saidToionto7 this 2nd day of July, 1909.

barkto and from the holder comprising in- ALEXANDER D. FISHER. @linedplanes formed on the pencil holder Signed in the presence of# and saidbar respectively; and lugs with A. CAMPBELL,

which the slide is adapted to engage to imo F. W. MOKENDRICK.

Copies of this patent mai7 be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

